With the announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be running the South Carolina 400 NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race at the Florence Motor Speedway November 18-19 comes even bigger news for every competitor. The South Carolina 400, previously known as the Myrtle Beach 400 when it was run at Myrtle Beach Speedway, will receive a big boost in 2022 as a result of a partnership between FloRacing and NASCAR.

The total race purse will see the addition of $30,000 spread throughout the field, resulting in the total purse being doubled from one year ago. The race winner will now receive $12,000, and the race will pay $1,400 to start. Drivers finishing in the back half of the field will receive more than double the purse from 2021.

“I think it’s going to be huge for the racer,” said track owner, Steve Zacharias. “It’s an expensive sport and an expensive event. As a driver, to know that I’m at least going to be able to pay my bills when I get here. I’m so excited for the teams and everyone involved. It’s going to be huge for the event to gain car count.”

Last year’s race saw 52 cars attempt to make the starting field for the South Carolina 400, and was won by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship four driver, Ty Majeski. The Wisconsin native has actually won the last two versions of the event.

With so many cars attempting to make the race one year ago, Zacharias said he expects this year’s car count to be about the same, if not better, thanks to the enhanced purse. Zacharias explained that adding the purse money to the back half of the field was extremely important to help out the racers that might not have a chance at the victory.

“Number one, the people at the back deserve just as much,” Zacharias said. “They’re coming and spending just as much money as the guy in first spends. There’s times you show up and know there’s really only five or six cars with a shot at that big money, but you’re still racing and you want a part of that too. When you show up at a track and you’ve got that big purse for the winner, as much as you want to come and say you’re going to win it, we all can’t win it.”

Zacharias previously served as the general manager of the legendary Myrtle Beach Speedway before it was sold in May of 2020 and subsequently demolished in late 2021. Zacharias purchased the Florence Motor Speedway in July of 2020 and has tried to carry on the legacy of Myrtle Beach Speedway and the Myrtle Beach 400.

“It’s an honor to carry the tradition and actually grow it while moving it an hour and a half away,” explained Zacharias. “I think it’s a testament to what Myrtle Beach Speedway meant to everybody. For Myrtle Beach to have a storied history like that and be open that long (1958 to 2020), there was plenty of people in between that made the 400 what it was.”

Zacharias also explained that the full name for this race is the Charlie Powell Memorial South Carolina 400 in honor of the man he purchased the track from. 

“Charlie had run this place since 1994 and he did such a good job trying to keep this place going, especially in the hard times. I signed our deal with Charlie on July 6, 2020, and he passed away on August 1, 2020. It bothers me that he never got to see these big races. He would be ecstatic to see Dale Junior come back and race at his place. So to be able to take both and carry on the 400’s legacy while honoring Charlie and what he did to keep this place open, it’s a privilege for me to be able to be a part of that.”

With the announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be running this event, a large crowd is expected. Race fans that plan to attend the South Carolina 400 are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance at fmspeedway.com.

Race fans that cannot make it out to Florence Motor Speedway to see the event in person can catch every lap live on FloRacing on Friday, November 18, and Saturday, November 19.